March 10, 2003
ARLINGTON, Va. - The Fairfield University baseball team open the 2003 season, by dropping a doubleheader to George Washington, on Sunday afternoon at Barcroft Park. Fairfield fell in the first game 10-9 after leading 8-1 in the seventh inning, and lost in the nightcap, 16-5.
The two teams were scheduled to play a three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday, but a decision was made to move it back one day to give the field a chance to dry out.
In the first game, the Stags took a 8-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Colonials came roaring back, with Tom Shanley taking an 0-2 pitch over the left-centerfield fence for his first career homerun to tie the game, and send it into extra innings.
Fairfield struck back in the top of the eighth with a leadoff double from junior Andy Lynn (Montville, NJ/Delbarton). Lynn would come home later on a junior Sal Mancuso (Bethpage, NY/Bethpage) sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the eighth GW's Chris Barry took Fairfield reliever Patrick Quinn (Little Falls, NJ/Passaic Valley) deep for a two-run walk-off homerun.
Junior Tom Maisano (Farmingdale, NY/Chaminade) took the hill for the Stags, pitching six-and-two-thirds innings, giving up seven runs on seven hits, while striking out six batters on the afternoon. Quinn took the loss giving up three runs on three hits.
Mancuso went 3-for-4 for the Stags driving in two runs, and knocking out two doubles. Junior Mike Wray (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in.
In the nightcap, the Stags came out a little flat after the comeback by George Washington in the opener. The Colonials took advantage by crossing the plate six times in the first three innings.
Nate Casagrande pitched six innings yielding two runs on two hits, and striking out two for his first win of the season for the Colonials. Fairfield's Pablo Tamayo (Miami, Fla./Ransom Everglades) took the loss going three-and-two-thirds innings giving up seven runs on seven hits, and three walks. Tamayo struck out three batters on the afternoon.
Freshman Doug Anderson (Troy, NY/Troy) went 3-for-5, with two doubles and one run batted in from the leadoff position for the Stags. Junior Antuan Barnett (Bronx, NY/Rice) went 2-for-5 with his first homerun of the season, and two RBI.
Fairfield returns to action on Tuesday afternoon when it travels to Fordham University. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
